Dispensing-fixture



G. T. JOHNSON.

DISPENSING FIXTURE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 1. 1920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

I Inventorzftorney.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE '1. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DISPENSING-FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Application filed March 1, 1920. Serial No. 362,449.

7 '0 aZZ w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn T. J OHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dispensing- Fixtures, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus for roll material; more especially to apparatus of the class used for dispensing short lengths of toilet paper and paper toweling from wound rolls of continuous strip or web material, usually weakened at intervals on transverse lines by slits or perforations. More particularly, it relates to dispensing fixtures of the class in which the roll-support has combined therewith devices acting by friction to retard the unwinding revolution of the roll produced by a pull on the outer end of the strip or web, so that the resistance to turning that is due to the friction shall operate to cause the strip or web to break or tear across, as for instance at a line of weakening.

One general object of the invention is to provide dispensing fixtures ofsuch class of improved construction and adapted to handle commercial roll packages of a variety of widths found in the market. Another is to provide improved fixtures of the said class 7 having the friction devices thereof adjustable to suit rolls of different widths. Other objects thereof are to simplify the construction, reduce cost of manufacture, and produce a strong, durable and practical fixture, one that will operate satisfactorily, and one that is simple and easy of manipulation in making application of a fresh roll thereto.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention which is shown in the drawings is the preferred form of embodiment of the features of the invention. In its general construction, the dispensing fixture shown is of the well-known type having opposite side arms which are relatively movable toward and from each other for the purpose of closing and opening the fixture, roll-supporting means in connection with said arms adapte to occupy the central opening of a wound roll of paper, and disconnectible means for connecting said arms and locking them in closed relations for supporting the said roll. In conformity with the invention, I combine with the said arms and roll-supporting means improved spring-actuated frictiondevices adapted to coiiperate' with wound rolls of different widths within the capacity of the fixture, and means for adjusting the said friction devices to suit rolls of different widths.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the illustrative embodiment aforesaid, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof partly in section.

Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section on line 4-4; of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. 5 is a face View of the friction-plate, shown separately.

Having reference to the drawings,'

The said embodiment has a wall-plate or base 1 which is shown as provided at its opposite ends with integrally-formed hooks 2, 2, within which latter the pintles 3, 3, upon the opposite side arms 4, 5, are retained when the fixture is in position upon a wall, to provide in well-known manner for hinging the said supporting arms 4, 5, to the said wall-plate or base with capacity to be swung away from each other so as to open the fixture for the introduction of a full roll, and then toward each other to close the fixture again. The more immediate roll-supporting means comprises cylindrical hubs 6 and 6 projecting toward each other from the in nor sides of arms a, 5, the said hubs being of a diameter suitable to enter within the cores to be found in the roll-packages which the fixture is designed to receive. The hub 6 carries a friction-plate constituted by a washer or partly annular disk 7 which is designed to be pressed by a spring 8 against the end of the roll 9, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, of web material applied to hubs 6, 6 Thereby the roll is compressed endwise between said plate or washer 7 and the opposite supporting-arm 5 so as to provide a sufficient frictional resistance to turning of the roll to cause the strip or web to break at a line of transverse weakening in the material drawn ofi' from the roll by a pull upon the outstanding free end of the strip or web. Preferably the plate or washer 7 is held from turning with the roll, which is effected in the present instanceby making the hub 6 hollow and-with two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 67, 6, into which enter two radially-disposed cross-pieces or spokes 7, 7, joining the annular outer portion of said plate or washer 7 which surrounds the collar 6 with the central portion 7 thereof within said hub 6, surrounding the spindle 10. The spring 8, (Fig. 2) is an expanding spiral spring. It occupies the interior chamber of hub 6, and is confined between the closed outer end-wall of said chamber and the said central portion 7 v ofthe plate or washer 7. The said spring serves to hold the plate or washer against the end of the roll 9 tightly enough to provide the requisite friction and resistance to the turning of the roll. The spindle 10 is fixed by its outerend to arm 4:, and extends axially of hub'6 inward into proximity with the opposite supporting arm 5.. In this instance the spring 8 surrounds the said spindle.

A simple and effective means of locking the said supporting arms 4 and 5 in closed relation is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the spindle 10 is hollowed out throughout the enlarged portion comprising about twothirds'of its extent, and has fitted therein a longitudinally extending axial bolt 11 slidably mounted therein and pressed endwise outward by an expanding spiral spring 13 occupyi'ngthe chamber within the spindle 10. Thespring projectsthe bolt to the ex.-

tent allowed byfthe stop or pin 14: project in radially from the bolt and traveling in afian'gitudinal lateral slot in the wallof the tubular ,ortion of said spindle 10. Said bolt 11 1s adapted to enter and fit closely within a hole 12 in the hub 6 upon arm 5. It will be observed that as arm 4. and its rigidly mountedspindle 10, and arm 5 with the hole 12,1must travel in circular paths in swinging outward and away from each other, no spreading motion will be possible while the bolt 11 is, in place in the hole 12 as in 2, because the slightest outward. movement of either arm will cause the. bolt to cramp or bind within the hole 12. To provide for opening the fixture, thebolt must e withdrawn from hole 12, which may be.

accomplished,when the spindle, 10 is in an uncovered state, by pushing upon pin 14 toward the left. This, locking device fixes the supporting arms in their-closed position rigidly and without play, fastens easily, is,

securely hidden away from meddling fingers so long as anyportion of the roll, or its core,

is left upon the spindle, and may easily be unlocked after the spindle 10 has been uncovered by the removal of the roll-material and core.

The action in looking is practically auto.-

matic, all that is required being to swing the,

two. rms 4;, nward war each other so hat the inn r en at hub h lenceun e he euterxencl efthe el 11. and pres the qlihaflli. With n flpilidk 10 unt he Swing:

ing movement of said arm causes hole 12 to al ine itself with the bolt. The bolt thereupon will be pushed into the hole by the action of spring 13 The entry of the bolt into the hole, thus occasioned, will effect the locking.

' A feature of the invention is the means of adjusting the friction devices to suit rolls of different widths within the capacity of the fixture. Commercial roll packages varying more or less in width are found in the market. For instance, some are four inches wide, some are a little under four and one-' half inches wide, and some are four and three-fourths inches wide. For the purposes of the adjustment, thespindle' 10 is screw threaded for a portion of itselength, and a wing-nut 17 is placed, thereon. adjacent the inner end of the hub 6, at a point where it will be exposed to access when the fixture is empty, for convenience, in manipulatingthe same in makingachustments, but will be covered and hidden by a roll occupying the fixture. Asieeve 16, surrounding the spindle between-the wing-nut; and the central portion of the friction-plate or washer 7 serves as, a filler, it extending as shown in Fig; 4 within-the hollow of hub 6 into on, gagement. with the said central portion of friction-plate .or washer 7. -The wing-nut:

1'7 constitutes an adjustable stop tolimit; the travel of'friction-plate'or washer 7 inward upon the hubfiunderthe action of spring. 8.

the latter may be regulated so as thereby to control the frictional resistance to the turning movement of the roll. 7 Y

, Preferably, and asillustrated in F ig. 4, the spring Sis wound in the form of a. tapering helix, the'succe'ssive coilsor turns thereof being, so proportioned that. they: are adapted to fit onewithin. another as the spring is compressed, and so that. when it"is fully compressed they all occupy substantially a singleplane; in such condition. the spring has the'fornr of a flattened spiral. Therebyglthe lateral'di nensions of the fixture are enabled to be kept at a minimum.

In applying the principles and features of the invention, the construction of the fixture maybevaried more or'less.

"lZhewing-nut l7, in addition to serving as, a means "of adjusting the position of the friction-plate or washer? to. correspond approximately with-the positions of the adjacent ends of supply, rolls ofj'difi'erent 1e th ,.and to ar nas-t mers or lessithe action of the said friction-plate or washer upon the roll, also constitutes a convenient means for enablingthe friction plate or washer to be set back and held in inoperative relations with the rollend, out of engagement therewith. This enables the frictional resistance to the turning of a roll to be dispensed with, when desired.

Nhat is claimed as the invention is:

1. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, having a roll support adapted to enter the central opening of a roll, and a spring-actuated friction-plate adapted to act against an end of a roll applied to said roll-support, movable lengthwise of the roll-support, and engaging with the roll-support so as to be held thereby from turning with the roll.

2. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising a longitudinally-slotted hollow rollsupport adapted to enter the central open ing of a. roll, a friction-plate mounted in connection with said roll-support for movement against an end of the roll and engaging in the slot or slots of the roll-support so as thereby to be held from turning with the roll, and a spring within the roll-support which actuates said friction-plate against the roll-end.

3. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, having a roll-support adapted to enter the central opening of a roll, and a spring-actuated friction-plate adapted to act against an end of a roll applied to said roll-support, movable lengthwise of the roll-support, and engaging with the roll-support so as to be held thereby from turning with the roll, and a stop which limits the inward movement of the said friction-plate, adjustable to suit rolls of different widths.

4:. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, means for supporting a roll between the said arms, a spring-actuated friction-plate which acts against an end of the roll to oppose the unwinding revolution thereof, and a stop to limit the inward movement of said plate, adjustable to correspond substantially with different roll-widths.

5. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a spring-actuated friction-plate carried by one of said hubs and' adapted to act against an end of the roll to oppose through frictional engagement with such end the unwinding revolution of the roll and means for locking said frictionplate from rotating in unison with the roll;

web material wound in roll form, compris ing opposite non-rotating-arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a spring-actuated plate movable relative to one of said hubs, which bears against the corresponding end of the roll and holds the other end thereof in frictional contact with the adjacent arm so as to oppose the unwinding revolution of the roll and means for preventing rotation of said plate relative to the said hub.

8. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite non-rotating arms "which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll. said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a springactuated plate disposed coaxially with the roll, movable relative to one of said hubs, which bears against the corresponding end of the latter so as to hold the other end thereof in frictional contact with the adjacent arm to oppose the unwinding revolution of the roll, and means for preventing rotation of said plate relative to the said hub.

9. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, one of said hubs pro vided with longitudinal slots, and a springactuated friction-plate disposed concentrically with the said hub, adapted to oppose the unwinding revolution of the roll, and having spokes working in said slots,

10; A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite non-rotating arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a spindle carried by one of said arms and provided with means for locking engagement with the opposite arm, a spring-actuated frictionplate disposed coaxially with relation to said spindle movable relative to one of said hubs and adapted to coact with friction means at the opposite end of the roll to op messe pose the unwinding revolution of the roll, into a flattened spiral substantially in a and means for reventing rotation of-said friction plate re ative to the said hub.

11. A dispensing fixture for continuous web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite arms which are relatively movable to permit ofthe application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a spindle carried by one of said arms and provided with means for locking engagement with the opposite arm, and a spring-actuated friction-plate movable lengthwise of said spindle, and a stop for said frictionsplate adgustable to accommodat rcll o d erent ths- 12. A dispensing fixture forcontinuons web material wound in roll form, comprising opposite arms which are relatively movable to permit of the application of a roll, said arms having hubs to enter the central opening of said roll, a spindlecarried by one of said arms and provided with means for locking engagement with the opposite huh, a friction-plate movablelengthwise of said spindle, a stop defining theextentof inward movement of said friction-plate, and an expanding spring acting inwardly against the friction-plate, in the form of a tapering helix adapted to be compressed single lane.v

13. dispensing fixture forrcontinuous web material wound in roll form, having a roll support adapted to enter the central opening of a roll, a springeactuated friction-plate movable lengthwise of'the rollsupport and adapted to act against an end of a roll applied to the latter, and means for holding said friction-plate in inoperative relations with the roll-end, out of engagement therewith.

14. A dispensing fixture for continuous; web material wound in roll form, having a rollsupport adapted to enter the central opening of a roll, a spring-actuated friction-plate movable lengthwise of the rollsupport and adapted to act against an end of a roll applied to the latter, and a screwthreadedmember adapted to be adjusted into a 'positionholdingsaid friction-plate in inoperative relations with the; roll-end, out of engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE T. JOHNSON. Witnesses: I V

NATHAN B. DAY,

CHAS. FKRANDALL. 

